Temporary home for library services in Pevensey Bay

A temporary home has been found to provide library services for people in Pevensey Bay.

From Tuesday, September 1, St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, in Eastbourne Road, will offer a small range of popular books for residents to borrow.

The service, accessible from Monday to Saturday from 10am to noon or whenever the church hall is in use, will fill the gap while the main library, in Richmond Road, is closed.

The building has been out of action since January, when it suffered extensive damage following the latest in a series of flooding incidents.

East Sussex County Council is in continuing discussions with its landlord to find a long-term solution to the problem.

Cllr Chris Dowling, county council lead member for community services, said: “While this is only a temporary solution, it will offer a valuable service for people in Pevensey Bay, allowing them to access library services in their own community once again.

“I’d like to thank residents for their patience, and to acknowledge the community spirit of the church and local people which has made this temporary provision possible.

“It’s vital that the flooding problems which have plagued the main library are properly addressed before we can consider reopening the building.

“We are totally committed to reinstating a permanent library in Pevensey Bay and will continue to work very closely with our landlord to ensure this happens as quickly as possible.”

While the main library is closed, people from Pevensey Bay can also use any other East Sussex library, including those at Eastbourne, Langney, Hampden Park and Bexhill.

The county council’s e-library can be used to browse the catalogue and borrow e-books, while people who struggle to travel may also be eligible for the council’s home library service.

A book exchange is also available at the Royal Oak and Castle, in Church Lane, with a range of ex-library books for anyone to borrow or read at the pub.

More information is available online at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/libraries or by calling 0345 6080195.